Free Wishes by Jude Deveraux Page B

handsome.”
    “Broad-shouldered and—”
    “What was his name?” Terel asked, already getting angry because she knew who he was.
    “Montgomery. Nellie said he’s going to work for your father.”
    “No one who works for my father looks like that,” Louisa said, putting her hand to her breast.
    Terel stiffened. “He does work for my father, and Nellie was merely showing him about Chandler. She—”
    “Is that what she was doing when they were embracing on top of the wall by the park?”
    Mary Alice gasped, then leaned forward to hear better.
    “I cannot believe—” Terel began.
    “At least a dozen people saw them!” Mae said. “The whole town is talking about it. Mr. Montgomery lifted Nellie up to the wall and—”
    “Lifted Nellie?” Mary Alice said.
    “Yes. Anyway,” said Charlene, “he lifted her to the wall, then climbed up with her, and in front of everyone he…he…”
    “Pulled her into his arms,” Mae said dreamily.
    “And he took the pins from her hair! There they were, embracing for all the town to see, and he unfastened her hair, and we heard that he almost kissed her. In front of everyone!”
    They sat there, looking at Terel, waiting for a response from her.
    “I do not believe you,” Terel said.
    “You can ask anyone,” Louisa said. “And their being on the wall wasn’t the only thing that happened. According to Johnny Bowen and Bob Jenkins, Mr. Montgomery nearly attacked them on the street. All they did was ask Nellie about you.”
    “Ask about me?” Terel whispered. Johnny and Bob were two of her favorite suitors. They were adoring puppies, requiring nothing from Terel but always ready to do her bidding.
    “Johnny said that Mr. Montgomery said that Nellie was not your social secretary.” Mae turned to Louisa. “That’s right, isn’t it? That’s what he said, isn’t it?”
    “Yes,” Louisa answered. “Mr. Montgomery said Nellie wasn’t going to answer questions about you, and Johnny said that Mr. Montgomery seemed quite taken with Nellie.”
    “In the tea shop,” Mae said, “he looked at her as if he were—well—in love with her.”
    “With Nellie?” Mary Alice said. “With Nellie Grayson?”
    Terel had heard more than she wanted to hear. She stood. “Mr. Montgomery is a very kind man, and he has a great deal of sympathy for women like Nellie. My poor sister has very little social life, and he felt pity for her, so he took her out for a day.”
    “I wish Mr. Montgomery would take pity on me,” Mae said, but she quieted when Terel gave her a quelling look.
    Terel jerked at her plum-dyed kid gloves. “I apologize if Mr. Montgomery’s actions were misconstrued, and I would appreciate it if you would stop spreading gossip that has no basis in truth.”
    She pushed through the young women, purposely stepping on the lace of Mae’s dress as she passed.
    “What about your heart palpitations?” Mary Alice called after her.
    “Her heart is fine, it’s her temper that needs doctoring,” Charlene said, and all four women dissolved into giggles.
    Terel was very angry as she started walking home. How dare Nellie do this to her! As if she didn’t have enough problems, what with so many other unmarried women in Chandler, to have her own sister betray her like this was more than she could bear!
    She stormed all the way down Coal Avenue, and every block someone stopped her to ask about Nellie.
    “Who was the heavenly man with her?”
    “It looks like Nellie may beat you to the altar,” Mr. Mankin said, laughing.
    “I hear they’re going to the Harvest Ball together,” Mrs. Applegate said. “Do you think you’ll be invited after what happened last year?”
    “I never realized how pretty Nellie was until today,” Leora Vaughn said. “I think I’ll invite her to my garden party.”
    “Terel,” Sarah Oakley said, “you must bring Nellie with you to next week’s church social.” She laughed. “This town isn’t going to let you hide Nellie away any